Recently, a drink called "Hippo Coffee" has gone viral on social media, with many netizens traveling to Thailand specifically to check it out. This cup of coffee, priced at 99 Thai baht (about 21 RMB), doesn't taste particularly special compared to regular coffee—its highlight is a lifelike hippo-shaped ice cream lying on the surface of the liquid. This hippo isn't just a randomly designed cartoon figure; it's modeled after the hugely popular baby pygmy hippo "Moo Deng" (Bouncy Pig) at Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo. However, this highly realistic hippo soaking in dark brown coffee has also led many netizens to exclaim that they "can't bear to take a bite." This article takes you behind the story of how this hippo coffee became a hit. [more…]

After Tea Baidao's lychee iced milk was discontinued with the changing seasons, the brand quickly launched two new iced milk drinks, among which the iced mint iced milk co-branded with Frozen drew a lot of attention thanks to its mint element and co-branded merchandise. However, this drink, made with fresh mint leaves, green grapes, lemon, matcha liquid, and milk, did not deliver the expected cooling sensation upon tasting; instead, the grassy flavor of freshly squeezed mint juice sparked polarized reviews. Some described drinking it as turning into a cow chewing on grass, while others found the plant's fresh fragrance uniquely appealing. Whether this cross-boundary mashup is a stroke of creativity or a flop is worth investigating. [more…]

In recent years, with the rise of the "national trend" culture, the "new Chinese-style" wellness concept has quickly gained popularity among young people. After saying goodbye to bad habits such as staying up late, smoking, and drinking, more and more young people are beginning to favor Chinese herbal medicinal diets and Chinese herbal teas. On social media, herbal milk tea frequently goes viral, and health teas dispensed by hospitals and herbal drinks launched by traditional Chinese medicine clinics through cross-sector collaborations are highly sought after. Data shows that over 70% of consumers are more willing to buy Chinese herbal teas and express satisfaction with their functional effects. Numerous pharmaceutical companies have entered the market, launching innovative products such as wellness coffee and herbal teas. However, experts also remind that although Chinese herbal teas are beneficial, they should be consumed in moderation, following the principle of "stopping once the illness is cured," to avoid counterproductive effects. [more…]

Recently, a consumer in Malaysia exposed in a Facebook group that the iced coffee they bought takeaway from a local coffee shop was mixed with a large amount of broken glass, causing the plastic bag to rupture and leak. The person only discovered after returning home that these glass shards were hidden in the ice cubes, of varying sizes with sharp edges, some even large enough to be picked up by hand. The coffee shop involved denied any problem with its product and refused to take responsibility. The incident sparked widespread attention and speculation among netizens, with some worried that insufficient evidence would make it difficult to defend their rights, while others called for exposing the store's information to prevent more people from being harmed. Currently, the person has reported the case to the police, hoping for police intervention to uncover the truth. [more…]

In recent years, Starbucks has been constantly pushing the boundaries of coffee shops. Last year, the Shanghai Roastery launched a limited-time buffet, and this year, Taiwan region, under the theme of "creating more Gold Star value experiences," partnered with the local Michelin Plate-recommended restaurant Embers to create a one-night-only pop-up "coffee feast." The event was limited to 28 spots, with registration requiring 200 stars plus NT$1,800. This feast centered on the theme "A 24-Year Starbucks Journey," featuring five limited-edition dishes designed with local Taiwanese ingredients, paired with creative coffee drinks developed by Starbucks. From an opening of cascara tea champagne to a closing of non-alcoholic Irish coffee, each dish carried a local story of Starbucks' 24 years in Taiwan. This article will provide a complete breakdown of the culinary creativity behind this coffee feast and the brand narrative behind it, while also reviewing Starbucks' previous collaborations with Michelin one-star restaurant chefs, and exploring whether its next step is truly to open a Michelin restaurant. [more…]

Front Street Coffee has learned that most people, when they first get into specialty coffee, start with Africa's Yirgacheffe or Sidamo regions in Ethiopia, and when it comes to Asian coffee, most people first think of Indonesia's Mandheling coffee beans. But with the rise of the domestic goods trend, Yunnan coffee from China has begun [more…]

Front Street Coffee has learned that most people, when they first get into specialty coffee, start with Africa's Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or Sidamo regions, while when it comes to Asian coffee, most people first think of Indonesia's Mandheling coffee beans. But with the rise of the domestic goods trend, Chinese Yunnan coffee has begun [more…]

Front Street Coffee has found that many people new to specialty coffee often start with Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe or Sidamo, and when it comes to Asian beans, their first thought is Indonesia's Mandheling. However, in recent years, with the rise of the local consumption wave, Yunnan coffee has gradually entered the public eye. Some people are skeptical about the quality of domestic products, but in fact Yunnan beans are already capable of rivaling mainstream producing regions. This article will systematically introduce the distribution pattern of China's coffee producing regions, the natural conditions for growing Arabica in Yunnan, the historical origins of the first coffee tree, and the lineage of variety transitions from Typica to Catimor, helping readers gain a comprehensive understanding of Yunnan coffee's past and present. [more…]

Yunnan small-bean coffee has gradually come into the view of specialty coffee enthusiasts in recent years, but many people are still unfamiliar with its variety origins, cultivation history, and flavor characteristics. This article begins with the distribution of China's coffee-producing regions, reviews the historical controversy over Yunnan's first Arabica coffee tree, sorts out the origins and development of the two major varieties Typica and Catimor, and introduces the two beans, Typica and Catimor, grown by Front Street Coffee in Lincang and Baoshan, Yunnan. At the end of the article, the three-stage brewing parameters recommended by Front Street are also included to help you recreate the clean and balanced flavor expression of Yunnan coffee at home. [more…]

As China's main coffee-producing region, Yunnan has long drawn attention for the evolution of its varieties and its flavor performance. Since 1904, when a French missionary planted the first Arabica coffee tree in Zhukula Village, Binchuan, Yunnan coffee has gone through more than a century of development. Today, Catimor has become the most widely planted variety in Yunnan. Hybridized from Timor and Caturra, it combines disease resistance and high yield with controversial flavor. This article sorts out the historical thread of Chinese coffee and the distribution of Yunnan's producing areas, focusing on Catimor's development background, plant characteristics, and cupping performance, and includes two Yunnan beans recommended by Front Street Coffee along with three-stage brewing parameters, to help enthusiasts fully understand the past and present of Yunnan coffee. [more…]